Volkswagen Design Vision GTI Concept

Golf R, Schmolf R.

People have been tuning, tweaking, and modifying the Volkswagen GTI basically since the first example rolled off the line in the late 1970s. In 1979, Hannover-based dealer Nordstadt put a widened Golf body over the chassis of a Porsche 928. Four years later, Swiss coachbuilder Sbarro turned a Golf into a mid-engined monster powered by a 330-hp Porsche 930 Turbo engine. The same year, Sbarro also put a 310-hp Porsche 928 S engine under the hood of a GTI. More recently, in 2007, Volkswagen itself outdid everyone else by turning a Golf MkV into a 650-hp, mid-engined supercar: The company stuffed a 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged W-12 and a six-speed automatic behind the driver. That surgery was performed to honor the brand's fiercest loyalists, who convene annually at the Wörthersee GTI meeting in the Austrian province of Carinthia. This year, Wörthersee brings the Design Vision GTI.

This GTI would put shame to any other vehicle in the hot-hatch galaxy—if it were actually to be built, of course. Volkswagen has jammed a 3.0-liter VR6 under the hood, force-fed by a pair of turbochargers to produce a whopping 503 horsepower. Up to 413 lb-ft of torque is transmitted to all four wheels through a DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission. Volkswagen says the sprint from 0 to 62 mph takes 3.9 seconds, and that this GTI tops out at 186 mph. There is some significance in the choice of engine. While we don’t expect VW to stuff a VR6 under the hood of a Golf again—the R32, the last such car, continues to hold a somewhat-special place in our hearts—it’s a clear signal that the brand will continue to develop the VR6 for future applications in larger vehicles, such as the production version of the CrossBlue Coupe concept.

Outside, the Design Vision GTI is more than simply a nod to the tuner community. Rather, it aims to take the essence of what the GTI is about, and elevate it to a higher level. To achieve an extra sporty look, the styling department has pulled the door sills and C-pillars outward and widened the track to accommodate 235-front and 275-rear tires, all on bespoke 20-inch wheels. The result is wider than the standard GTI by 2.8 inches, lower by 2.2 inches, and actually shorter by 0.6 inch, thanks to a new rear bumper. Horizontal elements on the front and rear bumpers emphasize the low, wide look of the vehicle, and the new headlights serve as a sophisticated variation of a look that is so coveted by the aftermarket community.

There is a reason this Wörthersee concept is called Design Vision GTI, says Bischoff: "My team was asked to provide a spectacular glimpse at the future of the GTI." Words we find to be more than encouraging, as they indicate that we can fully expect to see some of its design elements on future derivatives of Volkswagen's hot hatch. And with a 503-hp VR6, who needs an engine from Porsche?